Wiki Category: Samurai

The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter, in Japanese known as the Taketori Monogatari (竹取物語) is one of the famous folktales from Japan. Synopsis There was an old man and woman who had no child. He would go every day and cut bamboo and made[...]

Kintarō Kintarō (金太郎) is a Japanese folktale centered around the life of a boy with the same name as the story. There are several versions of this tale and as we come across more of them we will add them to the website. Synopsis There was a man called Kintoki who[...]

Ohaguro Ohaguro (お歯黒) was the Japanese custom of blackening your teeth. It was also known as Kane (鉄漿). Up until the 19th century it was thought to enhance sexual appeal as well as help to maintain healthy teeth. The mixture was achieved soaking iron nails in tea, sake, or various[...]

Aoyama Tessan Aoyama Tessan was a man who has connections to the story of Banchō Sarayashiki, his role is slightly different depending on the version of the folktale. In the Harima Province version, he is a Samurai who serves the lord of the Province. Aoyama wants to be ruler instead[...]

For the member of the Imperial Family see: Kaguyahime. Kaguya Hime Kaguya Hime (かぐや姫)can relate to two different people in japanese folktales. The Bamboo Cutter In this particular folktale, The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter, she is found as a small child inside of a piece of bamboo. After growing[...]

See also: List of Provinces Yamato Province Yamato Province (大和国) was an old Province of Japan, located in what is now Nara Prefecture.12 Inception During its inception, when the Kokugen System came into effect, it stayed as the centre of government and culture from the 4th century until 784. It[...]

See also: List of Provinces Tosa Province Tosa Province  (土佐国) was an old Province of Japan, situated now in modern day Kōchi Prefecture on the Island of Shikoku.1 The kojiki states that the kami Takeyoriwake dwelt here.2 During the Heian Period, in 930AD, Ki no Tsurayuki was appointed Governor of[...]

Mon Mon (紋), also known as monshō (紋章)1 were in essence family crests of Japanese families. Design The crests are almost always created monochromatically1, and are stylised designs in a circle or geometric pattern.2 Origins Many of the first depictions were merely elaborate patterns dating back to the Nara and[...]

Period: Muromachi Period Occupation: Warlord (daimyo) Family: Rokkaku Clan Birth: 1521 Death: 1598 Rokkaku Yoshitaka Rokkaku Yoshitaka (六角 義賢), born in 1521 and dying in 1958, was a Samurai and later Buddhist Monk under the name of Shōtei1. He was also a warlord (daimyo) who approached Koga clan, with the[...]

Konjaku Monogatari-shu The Konjaku Monogatari-shu (今昔物語集, Anthology of Tales from the Past) is a collection of tales. One tale relates to the Ubume, a creature who takes the form of a woman residing along a river, and a group of Samurai who dare one of their group to go and[...]

Ubume The Ubume (産女) is a Yōkai depicted in the Gazu Hyakki Yagyō by Toriyama Sekien. Sekien`s rendering utilizes the Kanji for the creature from the 1712 Wakan Sansai Zue, which describes the creature as a type of bird, capable of transforming into the guise of a woman who would[...]

Period: Heian Period Occupation: Samurai Miyamoto no Yoshitsune Miyamoto no Yoshitsune (源 義経) was a known martial artist and a Samurai during his lifetime. According to legend, he learnt his skills in martial art from the Yōkai known as the Tengu.1 Footnotes 1. Yoda, H. and Alt, M. (2016) “Japandemonium:[...]